"Dear brothers, the Lord marked out for us the fullness of love that we ought to have for each other. He tells us, no greater love than the man who lays down his life for his friends. In these words, the Lord tells us what the perfect love we should have for one another. John, the evangelist who recorded them, draws the conclusion in one of his letters: as Christ laid down his life for us, so we too ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. We should indeed love one another as he loved us, he who laid down his life for us.
This is surely what we read in Proverbs: If you sit down to eat at the table of a ruler, observe carefully what is set before you; then stretch out your hand, knowing that you must provide the same kind of meal yourself.
What is this ruler's table if not the one at which we receive the body and blood of him who laid down his life for us? What does it mean to sit at this table if not to approach it with humility? What does it mean to observe carefully what is set before you if not to mediate devoutly on so great a gift? What does it mean to stretch out your hand, knowing that the one must provide the same kind of meal oneself, if not just what I have said: As Christ laid down his life for us, so we in our turn ought to lay down our lives?
This is what is meant by providing "the same kind of meal." This is what the blessed martyrs did with such burning love. If we are to give true meaning to our celebration of their memorials, to our approaching the Lord's table in the very banquet at which they were fed, we must, like them, provide "the same kind of meal."
In the words of Jesus, "take this all of you and eat it, this is my body given up for you...take this all of you and drink, this is my blood shed for many."
Observe carefully what is set before you. As you stretch forth to receive from this spread know that you must give in return lest you receive in vain and does disdain the gift laid before all.
As we celebrate the institution of the Eucharist here are few words from Pope Benedict:
"The Eucharist means God has answered: the Eucharist is God as an answer, as an answering presence."
If the Eucharist is the answer, then what is the question. The question is ultimately what is happiness, how are we to truly discover happiness, the very happiness we long for?
As we proclaim in the celebration of the Eucharist on the lips of the priest, "happy are those who are called to his supper." Here we proclaim as one, "Lord I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed."
Only say the word and I shall be healed, made whole, rejoice in happiness that is lasting.
The word that heals is the Eucharist pressed upon the lips of Jesus, "take and eat...take and drink."
Today we celebrate the institution of the word that heals us and brings us happiness.
The Lord's supper is spread before us, come to the table and have your fill.
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